Donald Trump formally accepted the 2016 Republican nomination for president last night, emphasizing a key theme of his campaign – immigration.
Below are some excerpts related to immigration policy from his 1 hour and 16 minute speech.
On Criminal Aliens and Illegal Border-Crossers:
[…]Nearly 180,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records, ordered deported from our country, are tonight roaming free to threaten peaceful citizens.
The number of new illegal immigrant families who have crossed the border so far this year already exceeds the entire total from 2015. They are being released by the tens of thousands into our communities with no regard for the impact on public safety or resources.
One such border-crosser was released and made his way to Nebraska. There, he ended the life of an innocent young girl named Sarah Root. She was 21 years-old, and was killed the day after graduating from college with a 4.0 Grade Point Average. Her killer was then released a second time, and he is now a fugitive from the law.
I’ve met Sarah’s beautiful family. But to this Administration, their amazing daughter was just one more American life that wasn’t worth protecting. One more child to sacrifice on the altar of open borders.
On Monday, we heard from three parents whose children were killed by illegal immigrants Mary Ann Mendoza, Sabine Durden, and Jamiel Shaw. They are just three brave representatives of many thousands. Of all my travels in this country, nothing has affected me more deeply than the time I have spent with the mothers and fathers who have lost their children to violence spilling across our border.
These families have no special interests to represent them. There are no demonstrators to protest on their behalf. My opponent will never meet with them, or share in their pain. Instead, my opponent wants Sanctuary Cities. But where was sanctuary for Kate Steinle? Where was Sanctuary for the children of Mary Ann, Sabine and Jamiel? Where was sanctuary for all the other Americans who have been so brutally murdered, and who have suffered so horribly?
These wounded American families have been alone. But they are alone no longer. Tonight, this candidate and this whole nation stand in their corner to support them, to send them our love, and to pledge in their honor that we will save countless more families from suffering the same awful fate.
On Terrorists Exploiting our Immigration System:
Lastly, we must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place… [T]here’s no way to screen these refugees in order to find out who they are or where they come from. I only want to admit individuals into our country who will support our values and love our people.
Anyone who endorses violence, hatred or oppression is not welcome in our country and never will be.
On the American Worker:
Decades of record immigration have produced lower wages and higher unemployment for our citizens, especially for African-American and Latino workers. We are going to have an immigration system that works, but one that works for the American people.
On Border Security:
We are going to build a great border wall to stop illegal immigration, to stop the gangs and the violence, and to stop the drugs from pouring into our communities. I have been honored to receive the endorsement of America’s Border Patrol Agents, and will work directly with them to protect the integrity of our lawful immigration system.
By ending catch-and-release on the border, we will stop the cycle of human smuggling and violence. Illegal border crossings will go down. Peace will be restored. By enforcing the rules for the millions who overstay their visas, our laws will finally receive the respect they deserve.
On the Rule of Law:
Tonight, I want every American whose demands for immigration security have been denied – and every politician who has denied them – to listen very closely to the words I am about to say.
On January 21st of 2017, the day after I take the oath of office, Americans will finally wake up in a country where the laws of the United States are enforced. We are going to be considerate and compassionate to everyone.
11 Comments
It is about time we had someone who values the English language and American way of life. If these Mexican people want to speak Spanish do it at home if you honor the Mexican Flag more than the American one go back to Mexico then. Assimilate or leave!
Thank God, Thank God, Thank God. Immigration should serve the national interest — not the other way around. The American nation should not serve the best interests of the newcomers. The latter approach is self-preservation and logic turned on its head. We have been turned into a dumping ground for the world, and for our enemies it is a deliberate deconstruction of our nation and culture and political system.
Border towns are suffering from: high crimes by illegals, fraud in welfare system, opening up businesses and not getting business license insurance and bonds this hurts other businesses which conform, over flow of illegals in the schools, medical offices and hospitals over flowing with illegals, property values go down and etc! Come here legal!
From a person that makes trips back and forth to Mexico he has heard the Mexican government is supposed to be gearing up for a lot of illegals to be moving back to Mexico if Trump wins the White House. He said they are putting in place all kinds of help that will be given to the ones returning what ever that is. You wonder why didn’t they help them before they left ? Since Mexico is sent millions of U.S. dollars from the illegals working here the government had the money to do that but didn’t until Trump came along. The wall Trump is talking about I hope will be he same type that Israel has running along one of its borders that has stopped most of the spies sneaking in. The way I understand it it has razor wire running along the top and is electrified that will work.
I have said the same thing for years we have been paying for MEXICO people for to long,
This is great!!! I have been disappointed by our Presidents for so long on this issue, it is almost hard to believe we have a candidate like Trump! My opinion of him has gone through the roof after last night, especially after so many years of lying, backstabbing windbags who are just puppets of special interests. Go Trump!!!!
Trumps speech last night confirmed that he is the only Presidential candidate who represents us…our U.S. citizens. He is the only one willing to stop Bill Clinton’s disasterous NAFTA, stop any chance for TPP, or rewrite our bad unprofitable foreign trade deals. American’s want Border protection, job protection, and protection from unvetted refugees. Trump will fix this. Hillary wants to carry out Obama’s Presidential policies. We don’t need any more of that!!!!!
Did he mention nationwide, mandatory E-Verify? This would work better than any wall.
It’s in the platform. See the post on here from 7-19 “Immigration in the 2016 GOP Platform”. I agree it’s extremely important, but unfortunately the drug gangs don’t care about e-verify. If Mexico was serious about cutting down on the influence of the cartels in their country they would support a wall too as it would deprive those gangs of US money. The cartels control large sections of Mexico and even have effective control of parts of our country near the border, as several sheriffs there have said. But our media refuses to cover that.
Implementation of 100% EVerify
Is definitely a “law and order candidate”; but firing IA employees and its timing is more Trump administration planning…..just like the 35% tariffs [also not mentioned] on foreign stuff from countries with big trade surpluses must be timed and planned….a 1st 100 days planner in writing on both these issues would help.
I loved the “we’ll reverse NAFTA” from Mexico and take all those jobs back….that’s new and was added last night. Also Mexico builds the wall was omitted…just “build the wall”.
Overall, an excellent speech!
I’m with you President Trump. Go get them. Thank you